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There are some important things that veteran students need to know about maintaining enrollment status for VA benefits. Find out about full-time requirements, course certification, withdrawals, practical training, and mitigating circumstances. 

What are the full-time status requirements for VA benefits?

Full-time status for standard semesters is outlined in . For non-standard terms, such as Intersessions, full-time status and benefits vary based on your program, credit hours, and class length. Contact the School Certifying Officials for specific details about your enrollment status.

How does less-than-full-time enrollment status affect my benefits?

• Chapters 30, 35, and 1606: If you enroll less than half-time, your benefits are reduced proportionally and paid as a lump sum. You’ll be reimbursed for actual tuition and fees or the maximum allowed amount, whichever is less. Refer to for more information.
• Chapter 33: You must be enrolled in at least one credit above half-time to qualify for your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). For example, undergraduate students need 7-11 credits and graduate students need 5-8 credits. MHA is prorated based on enrollment, and no MHA is available for half-time or less enrollment.

Does ����ר�� accept military transfer credit?

����ר�� does not grant credit for military experience. However, undergraduate Veteran and active-duty students may petition to have their military experience meet Common Curriculum requirements. For guidance, contact your academic advisor and submit military transcripts to the Veteran Services Office at VABenefits@smu.edu.

Which courses are eligible for VA certification?

Only courses that meet degree requirements can be certified. Courses that do not fulfill degree requirements, like excessive free electives, will not be certified, and their associated tuition and fees will not be covered. Audited courses also cannot be certified.

Will the VA pay for me to repeat a course?

The VA will cover the cost to repeat a course if you withdrew or did not pass it. However, if you passed but want to retake the course to improve your grade, the VA will not cover the cost, unless the course requires a minimum grade to fulfill a requirement that wasn't met.

What are the requirements for declaring a major?

Undergraduate students must declare a major by their sophomore year to continue being certified. Before declaring, only University Curriculum (UC) or Common Curriculum (CC) courses can be certified.

Does the VA cover study abroad programs?

Only if the you are required to study abroad as part of the program. In that case, the VA will not cover airfare, travel, or boarding costs. If the program is not required, benefits will pay the equivalent cost of taking those courses on campus.

Can VA benefits be used for courses at other institutions?

Yes — if the courses apply to your degree. First, contact the School Certifying Officials at VABenefits@smu.edu to get a Petition for Advanced Approval of Transfer Work and receive approval from ����ר��. They'll then send A Primary School Letter to the other institution.

What is practical training, and how does it affect my benefits?

Practical training is academic training that incudes actual job experience, like internships, externships, student teaching, or practicums. These can be certified in credit or clock hours (the number of hours you are required to work per week), depending on which method benefits your enrollment status.

I'm entering my last semester but won't be at full-time status with my final courses. What can I do?

In your final semester, you can enroll in additional courses to achieve full-time status, even if those courses are not required for graduation. These courses must be part of your program and count toward graduation requirements but cannot be courses you have already completed.

What should I do if I drop a course or withdraw from ����ר��?

Notify the School Certifying Officials immediately at VABenefits@smu.edu. All enrollment changes must be reported to the VA promptly, and you are responsible for repaying any debt incurred due to drops or withdrawals. Refer to ����ר��'s for official drop/withdrawal deadlines.

How do I drop a course?

Via through the . After that, students receiving Chapter 33 or Chapter 31 benefits must contact the School Certifying Officials at VABenefits@smu.edu to lift the hold on their account. This process ensures you understand the potential impact on your enrollment status and debt ramifications.

It's recommended that you add/drop by the 5th class day — if you drop a course between the 5th and 10th class day, the course will not appear on your transcript, but tuition charges remain. Since VA benefits only cover degree-required courses that appear on your transcript, you may incur a personal tuition charge.

How do I withdraw from ����ר��?

• Undergraduate students: Contact the Office of Student Success and Retention at ssr@smu.edu to receive an Undergraduate Student Leave, Withdrawal, and Cancellation Request Form. The withdrawal is effective on the date the form is processed by the Registrar’s Office. Discontinuing attendance or notifying instructors does not constitute an official withdrawal and may result in debts with ����ר�� and/or the VA. If you live in ����ר�� housing, you must complete the clearance process with Residence Life and Student Housing.
• Graduate students: Contact your academic school or dean’s office to initiate the withdrawal process. If you live in ����ר�� housing, you must complete the clearance process with Residence Life and Student Housing.

What is a medical withdrawal, and how does it work?

Medical withdrawals are granted only with authorization from a licensed physician or counselor at the ����ר�� Health Center. If approved, you'll receive a pro-rated refund of tuition. To re-enroll, you must meet several conditions.

Requests must be made by the last day of class instruction for the term. Retroactive medical withdrawals are not allowed. If you live in ����ר�� housing, you must check out with Residence Life and Student Housing.

What are mitigating circumstances, and how do they affect my benefits?

Mitigating circumstances are situations beyond your control that force you to reduce credits or withdraw from school.

You must provide documentation to ����ר�� to report mitigating circumstances to the VA. If no adequate evidence is provided, the VA will not pay for the course(s) in question. If the VA determines there are no mitigating circumstances, they will reduce your benefits starting from the first day of the term.

• Examples of mitigating circumstances include:
• Illness or death in your immediate family
• Personal illness or injury during the enrollment period
• Unavoidable changes in employment or geographical transfers
• Family or financial obligations requiring you to pause education
• Course discontinuation by the school
• Active military service or training obligations
• Unanticipated childcare issues

What happens if I receive a grade of F?

If the F is due to non-attendance, it must be reported to the VA, which may create a debt with the VA and/or ����ר�� since the VA does not cover courses for which students stop attending. Our office will determine whether the grade resulted from non-attendance. Instructors are required to report the last date of attendance for students who stop attending, as per federal guidelines.

How does academic suspension affect my VA benefits?

If low grades result in academic suspension, it will be reported to the VA, and your educational assistance benefits will be discontinued. Benefits may resume if you re-enroll at ����ר�� in the same program.

What should I do if I’m called to active duty during the semester?

Contact the Dean of Students Office at deanofstudents@smu.edu and the School Certifying Officials at VABenefits@smu.edu as soon as possible. They will assist you in navigating your enrollment options.